Harvester construction



p 1933. E, E. WICKERSHAM l ,925,356

HARVESTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 51. 1930 TIL 5-1L- INVENTOR" f /lner E mb/rersbam Z ArroRlvE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARVESTER CONSTRUCTION Elmer E. Wickersham, San Leandro, Calif., assignor to Caterpiller Tractor 00., San Leandro, Calif., a corporation of California Application October 31, 1930. Serial No. 492,497

33 Claims. (01. 56-20) My invention relates to harvesting machinery closed herein, there is pr y pr v d a s p and particularly to combined harvesters which rator unit 6 having a suitable frame 7 which usually comprise a separator unit and a header is mounted on a transverse'axle 8 carrying ground unit which are adapted to be joined and proengaging wheels 9 and 11. The frame 'I is of the Delled over a field of standing grain to out the character disclosed inmy copending application,

grain and thresh the grain kernels from the Serial No. 246,697, filed January 14, 1928, and grain straw. In the usual practice, the header consists essentially of a tubular metallic shell unit and the separator unit are two separate which serves as the sole or main frame of the and complete vehicles which are joined together machine and which also serves as a support for 10 by relatively loose connections for use in the threshing mechanism mounted within the shell. harvesting operation before and after which they A lateral extension of the axle 8 serves as a are usually dismantled and separately conveyed support for an engine 12 which supplies the power and stored. Due to the peculiar location and for driving the various mechanisms in the maconfiguration of these two units, it is usually a chine. A link 13 extends from the axle at a 15 relatively diflicult matter to impart the draft point substantially below the engine to a forof the propellingunit to each of the header and wardly extending draft connection 14 attached separator units in such a fashion that the total to the main frame 7 and provided with an eye vehicle is propelled in a straight course and with 16 for the attachment of a draft mechanism an even distribution of surface. Ordinarily a such as a tractor.

20 push pole is employed extending from the out- Extending on the opposite side of the main board end of the header to the rear portion of frame '7 isat'ubular axle 17 whichat its inner exthe separator frame to withstand some of the tremity carries the hook lii looselyrngaging in stresses which are set up due to the propelling an eye 19 provided on the extremity of axle '8 of the combined vehicle and which in turn transadjacent wheel 9 At its outboard end, axle 17' 5 mit these stresses through the separator unit carries an outboard ground engaging wheel 21. 89 framework. Journalled onaxle 17 isfa surroundingtube 22 An object of my invention is to provide a harforming part of and a support for af-ramework 'vesting construction in which the separator 23 of the header unit generally designated as 24. framework is largely relieved of draft stresses The header unit is preferably'balanced by a rear- 30 originating in the header unit. wardly extending balance: beam 26 which is sev Another object of my invention is to provide curely fastened to the tube 22 and at its'reara harvester construction in which the draft most extremity car'ries counterweights 27. At its stresses are transmitted almost directly to the forward end and balanced by the --weights 27 is header unit. 7 the customary header structure including the 35 Another object of -my invention is to provide a framework for a draper 28 and a sickle bar 29.

quickly releasable and engageable attachment The extension 28 of thedraper is intended to exbetween the separator and header units of a tend into the feeder house portionBl-of tubular combined harvester which at the same time coumain frame 7. The-header and separator units ples them in a satisfactory manner for propulsion are intended to be propelled over a field in the.

40 over a field. t direction of the longitudinal axispf the separa- The foregoing and other objects are attained in tor unit 6 by virtue of the draft connection .14. the embodiment of the invention shown in the In order to obviate the necessity of providing drawing, in ich 7 push-poles and other similar devices which op- F Fig. 1 is a plan of a combined harvester concrate under compression and which must therestructed in accordancewith-myinvention; fore be relatively rigid and also to avoid unduly Fig. 2 is a view showing in front elevation a stressing the framework of .the separator unit 6, portion of the combined harvester illustrated in I preferably provide an extensionv 32 secure y Fig. 1. r 4 fixed to the framework 23and projecti gfiP In its preferred form, the harvester construcwardly therefrom toward the dra t Q JQ 5 .tion of my invention includes a main frame hav- 14. At its forward end the extension, 3 5 1 ing draft connections thereon and a header frame forated to receive pivotally a tra'1'1. C T 3 extending transversely of themain frame and tending link 33. The other end of th i k 5 connected thereto by a transverse link which is likewise pivotally connected as at 34 tojthe subject normally to extension. connection 14 of the separator fi The no In the form of my invention, which is di' s. ,33; isthuscapable of considerable movemen n I a vertical plane about its two pivotal axes to allow for rising and falling movement of the header unit with respect to the separator unit and at the same time as the combined vehicle is propelled over the field, the force exerted on the link 33 is one normally of tension. Furthermore the drag dueto the presence of the header .unit is transmitted almost directly to the draft connection 14 so that the main frame '7 of the separator unit is largely unstressed due to this cause. In order to obtain relative vertical adjustment of the separator unit with respect toineneacer unit, I provide on the forward extension 32a ver tically elongated rack 36 which at itslower end is provided with a pair of pivotal eefiaeenensm and 38 to allow considerable flexibility in 'm vement. Engaging in apertures- 39 for'rried iii the rack 36 is a pinion 41 formed on theen cl f a shaft 42 held in bracket 43 secured to the name- K. P1 of seQajmtior UWL- Tl??? Ph- 'EQd-Pi shaft ,42 likewise, carries ,a bevel gear @1 1 meshing witha similar .bevelgear 46 011 aqrank. shaft 47 so that by revolving, thecrank ,thepinioh ii is rotated to .raise and lpyverthe header frame ork 23 With respect to the separator flra'me 7. The .connections employed and t"eir relat1vely lose ,fit are such as to ,permit any degree'o'f ad'- justmentwithin the range of the ,machine. In. accordance .with the construction disclosed herewith, it,;is..possible ,to provide a lquickly attachable and detachableheader, and separator unit which can. bepropelledfover the field with the minimum of strain, on the machinery and which simplifiescons iderably the structure and whichalso reduces the we ght of thegstructure d lfllargelyuto. the fact that one nsmall junit is placed in tension rather than a large unit being placed in compression.

. It ris understood. that l do not 1 the fprm. of the ,harves'te con t and described.,he'rei n, asthe I, forth .in he, following claims, may be embodied in a plurality of I h -eF tQ-s l imasmY men 9 v 1. A harvesterc nstriu'ction compri n'g a mam am a rr f ,c ne. i fQn s. header frame extendingjransversely from said main frame, apivotal connection between said header frame and said main, frame and a transverse link pivoted a'tone endto said header frame and 'pivotda't the other end directly to said draftccnnection.

2. A harvester construction comprisingia main frame including a draft connection, a header frame 'pivoted "regard inainframe, and a transverse ink pivoted 'a't'one'eifddirectly to'saitldraft eeijiiie'eti'en anapivetedatthe-ether endto said header frarlne.

3. A'l iar v" "er constr'i'iitihcomprisingn main frame, also portingafxle for said mainframe, a draft connection "on sanaaamneme, a header frame pivoted: to gen "sne'p' mhg axle, 'an'extension on said'header Iren "toward "said draft connection zneans for; realigned-loweringmid header frame with respect to said main frame, and a, link connected ctly t'osaid draft connec'tion and tosaid ext 1" p ,7 LA harves'ter construct n comprising a main frame, a draft'connection, aheader framepivotto said main fra ral iede r emanates-fi in 5. A harvester construction ciir'iip'risinga main frame, a draft connection at the forward end of said main frame, a supporting axle on said main frame, a header frame extending transversely of said main frame, a pivotal connection between said header frame and said main frame, a forward extension on said header frame, and a transverse link connectedtosaid,forward extension and directly to said draft connection.

6. In a combined harvester thresher, a main frame, a jointed supporting axle, a draft connection, and means to transmit draft forces directly from said draft. connection to said axles independently of s aid main frame.

[In a threshing machine, a main frame, a mainaxle support therefor, a draft connection attached to said main frame, and draft transmitting means interconnecting said draft connection and axle independently of said main frame.

8. In a combined harvester thresher having a body, a main two wheeled axle, an axle connected thereto, a draft connection, and means tolinl; said axles with said connection independently of said body.

9; In a threshing machine, a main frame, an axle support therefor, a draft connection thereto, and means to link said axle with said connection independently of said main frame.

10. In a combined harvester thresher, a 'main frame, an auxiliary frame connected to said main frame for movement vertically relatively thereto, a draft connection to said main-frame, and means to link said auxiliary frame directly with said connection.

11. In a harvester thresher, a main frame and axle for carrying threshing mechanism, an auxiliary frame and axle for carrying harvesting mechanism, means toconnect said axles, a draft connection, and means to *linksaid draft connection with said axles independently of said main frame.

12. In a harvester threslier, a main frame for carrying threshing mechanism, an "auxiliary frame for carrying harvesting'mechanism,'a draft connection attached to the main frame, and meansto link said auxiliary frame with said draft connection independently of said main frame.

13. 'In a harvester threshen'a main frame and axle for carrying threshing m'echanis'm, an aux-125 iliar'y frame :'and axle for carrying harvesting mechanism, means to connectsaid axles, and a draft'conn'ec'tion attached to both said frames and to said first axle.

I'4.I:n a comliined harvesting and threshing 130 machinehaving a draft connection and a header, means connected directly to said connection to pullsaid'lieader.

"15.In a combined harvesting and threshing machine having a draft connection member and a 135 header frame "member, means connected directly with said area connection mernbe'r and interconnecting said members to permit-"relative vertical movement.

15. 211 a combined harvesting "and threshing 149 machinehavinga draft connection mernber'and a header-frame rneniberfinea'ns connected 'directly with said draft connection member and irrterconnecting s'aid memhers to it relative W vertical-rnovenient and tosubstantially prevent 1w relative horizontal displacement.

17. A harvester constn tion comprising a main frame, a draftc onnec on therenfa header frame pivoted to saidmai'n frarneyameniber' hinged onsaid 'draft corinection en said header frame, and means for controlling said member to control the position of said header frame.

13. A harvester construction comprising a main frame, a draft connection thereon, a header frame pivoted to said main frame, a member hinged on said draft connection and on said header frame, and rack and pinion means for controlling said member to control the position of said header frame.

19. In combination, a first axle, ground engaging means thereon, a second axle pivoted to said first axle, a draft connection, a link between said first axle and said draft connection, and another link between said draft comiection and said second axle.

20. In a vehicle having a main frame, an axle support therefor, an auxiliary frame, an axle support for said auxiliary frame, a draft connection, and means connecting said axle supports to said draft connection independently of said main frame.

21. In a vehicle having a frame, an axle support therefor, an auxiliary frame, an axle support for said auxiliary frame, a draft connection, and separate means connecting said axle supports to said draft connection.

22. A harvester construction comprising a main frame, a header frame extending trans versely from said main frame and movably connected thereto at a predetermined location, a member forwardly of said location, and means connecting the member to the header frame and adjacent the main frame, the member being pivoted for movement in an upright plane.

23. A harvester construction comprising a main frame, a header frame extending transversely from said main frame, a pivotal connection between said header frame and said main frame, said header frame having an extension forwardly of said connection, a transverse link pivoted at one end to said extension, and means including a pivotal connection at the other end of said link for connecting the link adjacent said main frame.

24. A harvester construction comprising a main frame, a header frame extending transversely from said main frame, a pivotal connection between said header frame and said main frame, said header frame having an extension forwardly of said connection, a transverse link mounted for movement in an upright plane, and means pivoting the link to the extension and adjacent the main frame.

25. A harvester construction comprising a main frame, a header frame extending transversely from said main frame, a pivotal connection between said header frame and said main frame, said header frame having an extension forwardly of the connection, a transverse link mounted for movement in an upright plane, means pivoting the link to the front of the extension, and means pivoting the link adjacent the front of the main frame.

1 main frame and the header frame, said link being mounted for movement in an upright plane to allow pivoting of the header about said axis, a member on the main frame, a member on the header frame, and adjustable means connecting said members to hold the header frame in a selected position.

27. A harvester construction comprising a main frame, a header frame extending transversely from said main frame, a draft connection on said main frame, and a link pivotally mounted for movement in an upright plane, said link being connected to the header frame and to the draft connection independently of said main frame.

28. A harvester construction comprising a main frame, a header frame extending transversely from said main frame at one side thereof, a draft connection attached to said main frame, means including a member extending from said header frame and connected to said draft connection at one side of the main frame, and means including a second member connected at the opposite side of said main frame and to the draft connection, said means serving to relieve the main frame of stresses.

29. A harvester construction comprising a main frame, an axle support for the main frame, a header frame including an axle connected to said main frame axle, a draft connection attached to the main frame, and means including forwardly extending members, each connected with an axle and to the draft connection, said means serving to relieve the main frame of draft stresses.

30. A harvester construction comprising a shell constituting a main frame, an axle support for the shell, a header frame including an axle attached to the main frame axle, a draft connection attached to the main frame, and means connecting the header frame directly to the draft connection.

31. A harvester construction comprising a shell constituting a main frame, a header frame extending transversely from the main frame, a draft connection attached to the main frame, and means connecting the header frame directly to the draft connection.

32. A harvester construction comprising a main frame, a draft connection adjacent the forward end of said main frame, an auxiliary frame, ground-engaging members for said frames, means for movably connecting said auxiliary frame to said main frame at a location rearwardly of said draft connection, and means for connecting said auxiliary frame to said main frame at another location forwardly of said first-mentioned location, said latter means being connected with said auxiliary frame and also with said draft connection independently of said main frame.

33. A harvester construction comprising a main frame, a ground-engaging support therefor in cluding an axle upon which the main frame is mounted, an auxiliary frame movably connected to said main frame at a location intermediate the ends of said main frame, a ground-engaging support for said auxiliary frame, a draft connection connected to said main frame adjacent its forward end, means for connecting said auxiliary frame to said main frame at another location forwardly of said first-mentioned location, said latter means including linkage at one side of said main frame connected with said auxiliary frame and also with said draft connection independently of said main frame, and a link member at the other side of said main frame connected to said axle and to said draft connection independently of said main frame.

ELMER E. WICKERSHAM.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1.925356. September 5. I933.

ELMER WICKERSHAM.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specifications of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: in the heading to the printed specification, line 4, for "Catez'piller Tractor Co." read Caterpillar Tractor (10.; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 12th day of December, A. D. 1933.

F. M. Hopkins (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patent:. 

